Detained veteran internet radio host “Giggs” Edmund Wan, who has been remanded in custody for over 18 months, faces a total of 10 sedition and money laundering charges. At the time of being charged, Wan hosted his own show on an independent radio station, in which he commented on current affairs. He also hosted a fundraiser for the education of Hong Kong young protesters in Taiwan. Wan was targeted merely for exercising his right to freedom of expression through peaceful means. Charges against him must be dropped, and he must be released immediately.
TAKE ACTION:- Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on November 18, 2022.
- Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
- Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 84.22. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah
Department of Justice
G/F, Main Wing, Justice Place
18 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
Fax: (852) 3902 8638
Email: [email protected]
Ambassador Qin Gang
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
3505 International Place NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202 495 2266 / Fax: 202 495 2138
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ChineseEmbinUS ; @AmbQinGang
Salutation: Dear Ambassador
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Secretary Lam,
I am writing to express my grave concern for ‘Giggs’ Edmund Wan Yiu-sing (尹耀昇), a veteran internet radio host who has been arrested and charged with a total of 10 counts of offences, including ‘doing an act with a seditious intention’, ‘conspiracy to commit an act of seditious intention’ and ‘money laundering’.
It is alarming to learn that Giggs was targeted simply for his political comments on Hong Kong and mainland China, as well as for hosting a fundraiser for sponsoring the education of Hong Kong youths in Taiwan. Peaceful expression of opinion and public fundraising are permissible under international human rights law and standards, and must not be criminalized or otherwise restricted through the use of vague national security offences.
It is distressing that the Hong Kong authorities are weaponizing colonial-era charges that have not been used since 1967 to target dissidents. Just this July, the UN Human Rights Committee in its Concluding Observations on the Fourth Periodic Report of Hong Kong have expressed concern over the government using sedition charges to prosecute journalists and representatives of civil society exercising their right to freedom of expression. The prosecution of Wan violates international human rights laws and standards. The Committee urged the repeal of the sedition provisions in the Crimes Ordinance and the discontinuation of all cases against individuals charged for exercising their freedom of expression. The Hong Kong authorities should implement these recommendations immediately.
I therefore call on you to:
- Drop all charges against and facilitate the release Wan Yiu Sing immediately, as he was charged solely for peacefully exercising his human rights;
- End the practice of bringing ‘national security’ charges against those who have simply exercised their right to freedom of expression or other human rights;
- Review and amend all laws and regulations, and end all related measures, that violate the exercise of human rights, in particular to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
- READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION: Word or PDF
- GET INSPIRED: Read about the people you have helped
- READ TIPS for writing effective letters and emails
- CONTACT US: [email protected]